Lock package

ABSTRACT

A package of a tray and enclosing sleeve wherein the tray has inturned end flaps and the sleeve has an internal, depending locking tab of a length substantially equal to the spacing between the adjacent edges of the tray end flaps to swing downwardly between the tray and flaps when the tray is inserted into the sleeve to lock the tray against removal from the sleeve. In one form, the tray is open topped and the lock can be released. In another, the tray has a closed top and the sleeve is provided with a tear strip to open the package.

United States Patent Van Inwagen 51 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] LOCK PACKAGE 211App]. N0.: 65,011

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,353,376 7/1944 Vatter..229/9 3,051,366 8/1962 Sandstrom ..229/9 Primary Examiner-Donald F.Norton Att0meyMason, Fenwick & Lawrence [5 7] ABSTRACT A package of atray and enclosing sleeve wherein the tray has inturned end flaps andthe sleeve has an internal, depending locking tab of a lengthsubstantially equal to the spacing between the adjacent edges of thetray end flaps to swing downwardly between the tray and flaps when thetray is inserted into the sleeve to lock the tray against removal fromthe sleeve. In one form, the tray is open topped and the lock can bereleased. In another, the tray has a closed top and the sleeve isprovided with a tear strip to open the package.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUMAR 14 I972 3.648.918

sum 1 UF 2 INVENTOR.

' Ebwm A-VAN lNwAqEN fl TTORIV E Y6 PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 sum 2 [IF 2INVENTOR. Eowm A; V N INWAGEN wmgiiwoqw LOCK PACKAGE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to packages, and more particularly topackages of paper board construction of the type having an outer sleeveand a tray slidable within the sleeve.

The sliding tray type of package is used in merchandising many differentarticles. It is convenient for the articles can be packed within thetray and the tray then slipped with the sleeve enclosing the tray andarticles, and complete the package. When the tray is removed from thesleeve, the articles are open for selection, and, if more than onearticle is contained in the tray, one can be removed without removing,or disturbing, the others.

This type of package cannot be handled freely without danger of the traysliding from the sleeve and spilling, or breaking, the contents.Consequently, it has been necessary, in many instances, to place a sealacross the ends of the sleeve to hold the tray against accidentaldisplacement. Other times, the entire package has been wrapped toprovide an overall enclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general object of the present invention isto provide a package of the sliding tray type having self-containedmeans for holding the tray in place within the sleeve to preventaccidental slippage.

A more specific object is to provide a package of this type having meansto operate automatically to lock the tray within the sleeve when thetray is slipped fully into the sleeve.

Another object is the provision of a sleeve and tray with cooperatinglocking elements which can be made with existing machinery and with verylittle extra material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sleeve and tray whichare self-locking when assembled, but which'can be opened withoutdestroying the package, and which will relock when the tray and sleeveare again assembled.

It is also an object to provide a self-locking package of the typedescribed having means to rupture the sleeve to obtain access to thetray.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdescription of two practical embodiments thereof, when taken inconjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, thisspecification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apackage embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sleeve and tray of the packageseparated from one another;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the blank from which the sleeve isformed shown in partially folded condition;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through the assembled package, and istaken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through the package, taken on the line5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a disassembled package of slightlymodified construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In general, the inventionincludes a sleeve and tray type package, wherein the tray has inturnedend flaps and the sleeve has a downturned extension of its glue flap ofsuch length that when the tray is completely within the sleeve theextension will swing down between the tray end flaps and preventmovement of the tray in either direction.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the package 1 comprises arectangular sleeve 2, open at its ends, within which a tray 3 may slide.When assembled, the two are locked together.

In that form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the tray 3 hasan open top so that the contents are visible when the tray is removedfrom the sleeve. The tray is folded from a blank which includes a bottompanel 4, side wall panels 5 coextensive with the sides of the bottom andconnected to the bottom along fold lines 6, end wall panels 7 along eachend of the bottom, joined to the bottom along fold lines 8, and endflaps 9 joined to the end panels along fold lines 10. Glue flaps 11 areattached to the ends of the side wall panels. The tray is assembled byfolding up the side and end wall panels and gluing the side panels 11'to the inner surfaces of the end wall panels 7. The end flaps 9 areinturned to overlie the bottom in parallel, spaced relation. As the endflaps are not folded sharply, they have a tendency to rise out ofparallelism with the bottom and to maintain an upwardly inclined angle,as shown in FIG. 2.

Sleeve 2 is also folded up from a blank. It has a bottom panel 12, sidepanels 13 joined to the bottom along fold lines 14, top flaps 15 and 16,each joined to one of the side walls along fold lines 17. Top flap 15 iswider than flap l6 and underlies flap 16 when the two are overlapped toform a glue flap 18 for adherence to the overlying portion of flap l6.Flap I5 has an extension along the greater portion of its long edge,connected to the flapalong a fold line 19, which serves as a locking tab20. The length of locking tab 20 is just slightly less than the distancebetween the edges of the tray end flaps 9 when in inturned foldedposition. Sleeve 2 is assembled by folding up said panels '13, foldingthe top flaps, applying adhesive along the glue flap section 18 of theflap I5, and adhering the edge of flap 16 to the underlying glue flapl8. Locking tab 20 is folded to extend from the edge of flap 15downwardly at an angle toward the sleeve bottom, as seen in FIG. 4.

When the parts are formed as described, and the tray packed, the endflaps 9 of the tray are inturned and one end of the tray is insertedinto the open end of sleeve 2. By reaching into the opposite end of thesleeve with the finger, locking tab 20 can be lifted so that the end ofthe tray will move under the tab and hold it raised as the tray slidesinto the sleeve. As soon as the tray reaches the position where its endsare flush with the sleeve ends, the locking tab will ride off of theleading end flap of the tray and swing downwardly between the trayflaps. This will provide a stop against the inner edge of each end flapof the tray, so that the tray cannot move in either direction. Thus, thesleeve and tray will be effectively locked together, and the tray willbe held against accidental displacement.

When an open topped tray is used, as in the package shown in FIGS. 1through 5,'it is possible to slip a finger into the end of the package,between the sleeve top and the tray end flap, and depress the end'flapand raise the locking tab 20, so that the tray is free to be drawn fromthe sleeve. With this construction, the package can be reassembled andthe elements will automatically re-lock.

Turning now to that form of the invention shown in FIG. 6, the samelocking arrangement is used, but once locked, the sleeve must beruptured to release the tray.

In the FIG. 6 construction, the tray 21 has a bottom 22, sides 23, ashort glueflap 24 on one side 23, and a top panel 25 on the other. Theglue flap and top panel are adhered to form a tube. The tray has ends 26and end flaps 27 the end flaps being adapted to overlie the top when thetray is ready for insertion into sleeve 28.

Sleeve 28 is formed as before, with bottom 29, sides 30, top flaps 31and 32, andlocking tab 33 extending from top flap 32. It differs fromthe previous form is having a longitudinal tear strip 34 extending thelength of top flap 31. The tear strip is formed by discontinuous tearlines 35 along each side. A finger tab 36 is provided at one end of thetear strip to facilitate removing the strip.

With the form of package shown in FIG. 6, the end flaps 27 of the trayoverlie the top panel 25 and cannot be depressed. Consequently, when thetray is inserted in the sleeve and the locking tab 33 drops onto thetray top 25 between the edges of the end flaps 27, the package ispermanently locked. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp the finger tab36 and pull the tear strip upward, breaking the .unsevered portions ofthe tear line 35 and separating th'e'sleeve top into two sections. Thesections of the top can then be opened and the tray removed.

With both forms of tray, the package is efiectively locked and the traywill remain in place until purposely released. Of course, the open toptray type is reusable, while the closed top tray type is not.

While in the above practical embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it will be understood that the precise details ofconstruction shown and described are merely by way of example, and theinvention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a package including a sleeve and a tray slidable within thesleeve, means to lock the tray within the sleeve comprising, end flapscarried by the tray and foldable inwardly to overlie the tray, and alocking tab depending from the inner surface of the sleeve and havingends spaced from the sleeve ends a distance equal to the length of thetray end flaps to fit between the tray end flaps in abutting relationwith the tray l'llA end flaps when the tray is inserted into the sleeve.

2. In a package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking tab isconnected to the sleeve by a hinged connection and is biased toward theopposite side of the sleeve.

3. In a package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sleeve has a tearstrip extending the full length of the sleeve in a direction parallel tothe locking tab.

4. In a package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is folded upfrom a blank having a bottom panel, side panels and overlapping toppanels with said panels being interconnected by fold lines to form arectangular sleeve, and the locking tab is an extension of theunderlying one of the overlapping top panels.

5. In a package as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking tab ishingedly connected along a fold line to the top panel from which itextends.

1. In a package including a sleeve and a tray slidable within thesleeve, means to lock the tray within the sleeve comprising, end flapscarried by the tray and foldable inwardly to overlie the tray, and alocking tab depending from the inner surface of the sleeve and havingends spaced from the sleeve ends a distance equal to the length of thetray end flaps to fit between the tray end flaps in abutting relationwith the tray end flaps when the tray is inserted into the sleeve.
 2. Ina package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking tab is connected tothe sleeve by a hinged connection and is biased toward the opposite sideof the sleeve.
 3. In a package as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sleevehas a tear strip extending the full length of the sleeve in a directionparallel to the locking tab.
 4. In a package as claimed in claim 1,wherein the sleeve is folded up from a blank having a bottom panel, sidepanels and overlapping top panels with said panels being interconnectedby fold lines to form a rectangular sleeve, and the locking tab is anextension of the underlying one of the overlapping top panels.
 5. In apackage as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking tab is hingedlyconnected along a fold line to the top panel from which it extends.